Ojisi

Of Love, Stones and Bones

02:10

Ten years ago I wrote this piece as a single man still still studying for his Masters degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution. It was written under the #dearfuturewife series with the title "Of Relationships, Ofada Rice, Agidi Jollof and Tasty Spices". It got good reviews and it was great hearing comments from people.

The need to reproduce this now, as a married man stems from an ongoing conversation in my university alumni association WhatsApp platform about men and women and who should care for each other in marriage.

I encourage you to read and give me your thoughts.

So let's go!

Heheheh! I am giddy with excitement at the thought of the caption of this piece, so let me laugh myself before you all start laughing at me. I am sure many would say "Jisi ibia kwa ozo". Jisi there you go again." Don't worry, I am not prescribing a new recipe for the kitchen. Even though I went for a wedding last week and the Caterer put both Agidi and Abacha among the proteins to be served.

Now back to the matter on ground. Some years ago , I wrote something on "The Dance Approach to Relationship and Marriage", detailing how marriage should be view from the prism of dancing. After all, it takes two to tango; hence, I always pray for people at weddings and wedding anniversaries "may your dance together be eternal". now I want to share another approach hence my choice heading. Please be patient and read through first.

It is no news that the configuration of man and woman is different but when blended well in every relationship, the result is beautiful. We have established that using the dance analogy. I have always held that a relationship is like a dinner table set with rich food made of different spices where people come with varying degrees of appetite and looks to get satisfied. Hence my prayer for new couples, "May your taste in each other be ever spicy."

Now let's look at it individually

The man as an Ofada Rice: Understanding Beyond Love

Growing up, one of the major features of the famous local Abakaliki rice oroduced in Ebonyi State South East Nigeria, is the Stones inherent in it. Yes, the man is likened to such. No matter how well you pick, sieve and blow, you must still find some stones.This is the uniqueness of that Brand.

Ask those from the south western part of Nigeria who enjoy Ofada rice. Ofada rice produced mainly in Ofada Town, Ogun State and is cooked in leaves and eaten with stew fried in Palm Oil and enjoyed mostly in parties. As much as I love that meal, nothing prepares you for the Stones you encounter while eating it. Ọ zi ka nwoke dị. (that is how a man is).

Beyond our love for Ofada rice is the understanding that we must encounter some stones and storms along the way. The woman who understands her man loves and respects him already.

The Woman as Agidi Jollof: Soft and Tender When Love is more.

If you love "Agidi Jollof", (pap cake made from corn, but with added spices to make it tasty), then you would understand the nature of the woman for no Agidi Jollof is complete with the usual brisket (biscuit) bone.

Agidi Jollof is made up of varying spices but the most concealed is the bone in it. Hence the truism in the South African proverb "strike a woman, strike a rock". Without the bone, the "Jollofness" in the Agidi is lost and it is merely just Agidi.

When the woman is loved, then the man can get to the succulent part of the brisket because indeed love is thicker than brisket bone.

Agidi - Ofada: The Nexus

From the above illustration No matter how well you think you have groomed your man, you would still find some unsavoury acts. Again no matter how beautiful and tender, sweet and luscious your woman appears, there is the rock within, deal with it. No partner is complete! No Mr. Right neither is there a Miss Perfect!

It is cooperation that makes the pot of rice rise plentifully during cooking. Understanding, trust, sacrifice, cooperation, effective communication is key to lasting relationship. Find and understand the need for the Stones in your Ofada rice, discover and love the bone in your Agidi Jollof but most Importantly, appreciate the distinct flavour that your blend produces.

Train your child and love your spouse. May your appetite be strong, your spices be tasty and may your dance be for a life time!

Stay Jiggy

Jisi

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reflection

Of Faith and Giving Winds to thy Fears

23:26

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Reflection

Of Finishing First and First, Finishing; The Dash

03:28

*"Kìrà kìtà ò dọlà, ká ṣiṣẹ́ bí ẹrú ò da nǹkan "-- Hurried quest does not translate to wealth and working like a slave often achieves nothing.*

It has been a while. The will to write is something that I need to find again. We'll as usual, November has come and it is ending with its sickly bout. So enjoy this piece as I reflect from my sick bed.

Life is not a a race of who gets somewhere first. We all have our Start and Finish Lines different from each other. Our race tracks differ hence we must adopt the fitting skills for each race.

Sprints and long distance races require different preparation. Usain Bolt cannot thrive in 5km races just as the Kilpatrick brothers would not be world Champions if the tried the 100m Dash. Find your niche, work hard at it and stay true to it.

Creating an Identity for yourself is crucial to your personal survival in life. In every race, each athlete has a unique number even if they all wear Jerseys made by the same designer. There is profit in being unique.

Margaret Thatcher once said "Success is having a flair for the thing that you are doing, knowing that is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a sense of purpose."

Growing up, one of the songs or is it nursery rhymes I picked was *this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, am gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!*

Upon conception, we all were given talents, gifts and purposes unique to our personalities and abilities. These packages are raw and spontaneous, sometimes without beauty, finesse and class. It is up to us to fan it into flames; to build up the momentum, to refine the talents to make it apassion that ignites like wide fire. This where attitude comes in.

I have always said that you cannot love and not express, know and not share and, be ingenious and be hidden. Light is beautiful; the fascination of beauty attracts. When we keep the light of God burning in us, it inflames our hearts keeping it warm; it radiates and transforms those who come in contact and most importantly, it dispels darkness and accentuate our beauty through its luminous allure.

The beauty of light implies that we keep our light burning no matter the circumstances. People only see and appreciate light. Darkness frightens, light beautifies. Remain true to your beauty!

The day you take your mind off the work and start comparing yourself with others, you lose the essence of why you are born. Work is important because it keeps the heart alive. Your work may be in social enterprise, business, family, climate change, politics, volunteering, mentoring, whatever it is, keep your eye on the work and your head will remain in the game.

If you stay true to your course, apply the right skills and techniques which of course includes patience, tolerance and passion and consistency then success will be yours. This is not an automatic guarantee that things will be smooth, nah. But in the end, you will be glad.

Working hard and Working Smart are two different things, know when to apply which, as you do may wisdom Characterize your decisions!"

Remember," to finish First, you must first finish".

Stay Jiggy

Jisi

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Reflection

Of Longings and Belongings

03:19

Welcome to December. Please permit me to begin this "letter" with the first verse and chorus of a favorite Advent Hymn of mine.

We long to see Thee so

To see the newly born.

We long for Christmas morn

The sands of time run slow...

O come O come O come O come

Our Savior dear to be

O come O come O come

We have no King but Thee.

It was the Canadian-American singer and songwriter Neil Young who once wrote "when people start asking you to do the same thing over and over again, that's when you know you're way too close to something that you don't want to be near."

It's the start of a new week, the beginning of the end of the twelfth month, the highly infectious and exhilarating December! It's a new year too for all Catholics as we begin another liturgical year. So while it is proper to say happy new month to you and yours, it is also very proper to say "Happy New Liturgical Year" to all Catholics reading this.

The advent season comes with a "longing" as it prepares us for the coming of Christ; first at Christmas when we commemorate his birth into this sinful world, and at the Perussia when he comes in glory to make of us Saints in his Kingdom where we all "belong".

The core of the teachings and lessons from Advent is what is known in theology as eschatology: the end times - death, judgement, heaven and hell.

If there is one core message that is pushed to us, it is that we must be prepared for Jesus' coming and there are different ways to do so - prayer, fasting and alms giving. In doing these, we learn how to love God above all things and love our neighbors as ourselves just as God loves us.

Everyday of our lives should be dedicated to learning new ways to loving our neighbors whom we can see and thereby loving God who we see and serve in our neighbors. Never tire in doing good. In the end, it pays.

Our God blesses us in many ways and therefore there are many ways we can praise, worship and adore him. If you have tried prayer, add praise; garnish it with charity and of course don't forget to obey constituted authorities.

As we long for him, may we eventually belong to him in his kingdom. May God make of us Saints worthy of his Kingdom. Amen.

May your December be delightful!

Stay Jiggy

Jisi

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education

Of Teachers, Social Contract and Educational Development

02:37

It was William Arthur Ward who once wrote “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires”.

Today is Teacher's Day and the 2024 theme: Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education recognizes the valued roles teachers play as they are the most important in-school factor when it comes to learning.

I come from a background of illustrious teachers on both my paternal and maternal side. Both my parents were teachers and I am married to a teacher. I have spent many years volunteering at summer lessons teaching social Studies, Civic Education and Government. By virtue of my many years of moderating and presiding over Model United Nations conferences and committees within and outside Nigeria, you can safely infer that I am also a teacher.

You will agree with me that In all, the teacher leaves you better than you were with your parents. In many cases, teachers have gone on to help people discover their destinies.

The age long maxim the teacher's reward is in heaven has become a dangerous philosophy, a breeding ground for contempt and the trivialization of the role of teachers. The reward for teachers need not be seen in tangible pecuniary terms, but in many intangibles - respect, dignity, recognition. The teacher stands towering above every other profession, because it is the cradle of both professional and vocational excellence.

But what do we find in today's society? A direct contempt for the person or the profession itself. They are constantly being owed salaries and, even when they retire, pensions don't come as it should. They continue to battle both natural and environmental forces to ensure that lessons are taught and comprehension achieved.

Teachers endure very harsh conditions of service and work assidiously to build the next generation. Well, this isn't new when we consider that even Jesus' authority was questioned, his teachings contested. But it does not embolden us to disregard our teachers.

It is he who hasn't been taught before that would not be grateful for lessons of life imparted by the teacher. Teachers, lead the motivation charge, helping people to unleash their passion and bear true gifts to the world. Teachers are the real MVPs because they never tire to lend themselves; regularly pouring out their own lives as a libation for the service of others.

To every profession, a teacher is responsible. To the many success and ingenuity recorded in our World today, the hand of the teacher is visible. Today, the world celebrates the amazing roles Teachers play in shaping our lives and in building great minds.

In praise of teachers, Maria Montessori puts it well "It is not enough for the teacher to love the child. She must first love and understand the universe. She must prepare herself, and truly work at it." If the teacher does this, then why can't we value them and then improve their status?

We owe our teachers a debt of gratitude. Our thankfulness should not be ensconced only on a day like this. It should be a daily mantra - a sort of timeless gratitude. For as Bill Gates rightly said, "Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important."

Today, I celebrate the love of my life, wife of my youth, mother of our son and teacher to both of us - Nkiruka Mary Sylvia Udechukwu. BSc. PGDE. M.ED for the outstanding role she plays as an educator.

Baby gurl, keep shining!

Today, treat a teacher nice. Thank a teacher!

#thedailyletter #jisi #teachers #teaching #teachersday2024 #ojisiemezie

Stay Jiggy

Jisi

0 Comments

Africa

The African Child, Still in Search of Justice

10:47

Today is the Day of the African Child.

There is so much to be said about the African Child especially in contemporary times, particularly in Nigeria even as we navigate through the New Normal, brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. In these times, the African Child is inundated with a litany of needs and wants amidst plenty. A striking paradox that defines the present state of the African Child.

The Day of the African Child, DAC is commemorated every year since 1991 in memory of the 16th June 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa, during which students who marched in protest against the poor quality of education were massacred by the then apartheid regime in place in South Africa. Thirty years after, we continue to witness a steady decline of the education system in the continent, so much so that African countries continue export their best potentials abroad in a vicious cycle of brain drain, while still enriching the West with more wealth in form of education tourism.

The 2020 theme focused on justice with the theme "Access to a Child-Friendly Justice System in Africa". The theme as adopted by the African Union, AU in 2019 is in tandem with the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs and the Agenda2063 of the AU. The theme called for justice for the African Child for the many crimes committed. This is because a lot of African children needs more than mere rhetoric to survive in this ever changing world, especially now that the world grapples with the effect of Covid-19.

Within the Nigerian context, there still exist glaring Inequality, child marriages, rape,child molestation, female genital mutilation, mindless looting of the commonwealth, poor infrastructure, weak education and health care systems, all pointers to a bleak future for the Nigerian Child and indeed the African Child. Despite the very deplorable state of affairs in our continent, the African child remains resolute, creative, resilient, forward thinking and does not wait for the government to act.

On the 16th June 1976, students marched in protest against the poor quality of education they received and demanded to be taught in their languages. They were met with brute force and many were killed in that incident. 45 years after the Soweto Uprising, 30 years after the first commemoration of the DAC, the African Child still suffers from State sponsored oppression as was seen in the EndSARS movement in Nigeria last year, with the invitation of the military to quell protesters.

Nearly five decades after the Soweto Uprising, we still experience very low investments in education, poor curriculum development, old fashioned pedagogy prompting the African Child to learn under very difficult circumstances. Yet, the African Child continues to defy the odds, charting new courses and excelling at his or her chosen enterprise amidst obvious limitations.

It is against this background that the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, ACERWC, a committee of the AU established under Articles 32 and 33 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (the Charter) chose the 2021 theme as “30 years after the adoption of the Charter: accelerate implementation of Agenda 2040 for an Africa fit for children”.

Today's celebration calls for serious introspection and commitment towards addressing the numerous challenges facing the African Child across the continent. The ACERWC calls on Member States to contextualize this celebration as a build-up to the realisation of the rights of children from the family/community level and up to national and international levels.

In 2017, the theme was “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for Children in Africa: Accelerating protection, empowerment and equal opportunity”. The Child friendly version is “Accelerating protection, empowerment and equal opportunities for children in Africa by 2030″. Again, this theme is in line with the SDGs and the Agenda2063 of the African Union.

We can't continue to wait for our political leaders and policy makers to bamboozle us with their fine grammar and grandiose talks. Forty-five years after, was the blood of the Soweto Protesters shed in vain?

God forbid that those lives died for nothing.

Our leaders must go beyond the rhetorics and implement Agenda 2040 if indeed we want an Africa fit for children by 2063.

Jisi

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Albinism

Strength Beyond All Odds: Albinism and the New Normal

09:23

Hello my people.

So today I decided to come out of my cocoon. I wrote this piece in my capacity as Director of Communications and Strategy for Onome Akinnlolu Majaro Foundation. Read through and let me hear your thoughts.

It feels good to be back!

A. A'a a. L a'a. A..... A.. A. Aaaa is a whole lot of myths and misconceptions about albinism and PWAs such a; PWAs don’t eat salt, don’t get married, only see at night, that their blood and body parts can cure HIV and AIDS and also make you rich; this is why they are hunted like animals in East Africa. These are all untrue. PWAs live healthy lifestyles and make healthy choices too. Yes, due to the ultra violet rays from the sun which causes skin cancer, PWAs are advised to stay off the sun or ensure they have proper clothing which covers the exposed parts. They are encouraged to use umbrellas wear hats, sunglasses apply sunscreen so as to protect their skins. In obeying these directives, they continue to power, despite these visible limitations.

Albinism, in any of its forms, is the result of heritable mutations that lead to defective melanocytes, unable to properly synthesize melanin and to distribute it through dermal tissues. Simply put, albinism is the inability of the skin cells to produce enough melanin in the eye, skin and the hair, thereby making persons with albinism vulnerable to the harmful effect of the ultra-violet rays (UVR) from the sun. Nigeria has one of the highest prevalence rates in Africa with over 6 million persons living with Albinism, and it is estimated that hundreds of them face discrimination and stigmatization annually.

In his message for the 2016 celebration, UN Secretary General said, “Albinism is a genetic condition that affects people throughout the world, regardless of race, ethnicity or gender. Yet, tragically, people with albinism continue to suffer widespread discrimination, stigma and social exclusion. Very many, including children and women, are extremely vulnerable, isolated and subject to abuse and violence. The endorsement of a Regional Action Plan on Albinism in Africa by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights as well as by the Pan African Parliament is a key step forward”.

Four months after the first IAAD, OAM Foundation was birthed and has become one of the leading NGOs in Albinism advocacy in Nigeria, leading social campaigns in the promotion and enjoyment of rights of persons with albinism. Almost six years into our operations, our efforts as an Albinism Awareness advocacy group has yielded tremendous efforts as we have been able to galvanize more PWAs to rise and shine, be proud of their colour and see beyond the complexion. Beyond all odds, we encourage PWAs to live meaningful and purposeful lives; developing themselves, acquiring skills and also contributing to the economic development of their communities.

Since 2015, the Foundation has expended millions of naira in helping thousands of PWAs both directly and indirectly to become the best version of themselves. From empowerment, education, awareness, confidence building, provision of sunscreen and medicated sunglasses to organizing several fora on issues concerning PWAs, we have invested in improving he lot of many and our records show. Since the pandemic started in 2020, our interventions has reduced since 100% of our funding comes from the founders. This has impeded the extent of our impact in the area of empowerment and scholarships, nut we have remained resolute in social campaigns. We are open to external donors and grants from those who share our vision.

As we celebrate the 2021 edition, the management and Board of the OAM Foundation is using this medium to thank the outgoing United Nations Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Rights of PWAs, Ms Ikponwonsa Ero, for her many contributions to the improvement of the lives of PWAs globally, while serving out her Mandate. Today, we celebrate an accomplished young person who was given a voice to PWAs to see beyond their complexion and indeed embrace their strength beyond all odds. Having served two terms as of 3 years each, IK as we fondly call is set to leave to pursue other endeavors. We wish her success in her future pursuits and look forward to working closely with the new UNIE.

In conclusion, it is intrusive to note, that the family has the greater role to play in ensuring that PWAs celebrate their strengths beyond all odds in the new normal since it is the first environment every PWA is exposed to. It is the duty of the family to provide a strong support system for the PWA – to build their self-esteem and embolden them to be confident enough to face the many challenges of life.

Parents must treat their PWAs as they treat their pigmented children. My parents always treated us as one and they helped us in our confidence building. Schools must put adequate measures that would ensure conducive learning for PWAs. Teachers should be patient with them and encourage them to learn using new methods that puts less stress on the eyes. The society must see PWAs first as humans above anything. This is why we preach beyond the complexion.

OAM is open to partnerships. We will like to see more collaborations. More sincerity by stakeholders in ensuring that the persons with albinism enjoy their fundamental human rights. We must always see PWAs beyond the color of their hair and skin. We must see the soul that lives within them. To do these would mean to embrace PWAs as humans that they are. When we limit the odds, then, more PWAs will discover their strengths, and truly shine.

Happy IAAD 2021!

Chimezie Udechukwu

Director, Communications and Strategy

OAM Foundation